Health Disparities: Learn More, Get Involved, Take Action

Adela V. Justice, AHIP

What is a health disparity? According to the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the term refers to differences in the health status of different groups of people. Some groups of people have higher rates of certain diseases, and more deaths and suffering from them, compared to other groups. These groups may be based on race/ethnicity, immigrant status, disability, sex or gender, sexual orientation, geography, or income.

MLA Health Disparities SIG, convened in 2012, is devoted to creating and enhancing opportunities for health sciences librarians to address health disparities and inequities. With diversity and social justice turning out to be big themes at MLA'18, the Health Disparities SIG is in an opportune position to advocate for more awareness of these issues.

For those interested in learning more, you can join the SIG (cost: $0), follow the SIG's Facebook group, keep an eye out for relevant conferences/webinars (here's a list from the National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology's page on Health Disparities), and follow the suggested Twitter hashtags: